NRA support loses its attraction for politicians

Published
12:00 pm EST, Saturday, December 22, 2012

Activist Medea Benjamin, of Code Pink, is led away by security as she protests during a statement by National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, left, during a news conference in response to the Connecticut school shooting on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 in Washington. The National Rifle Association broke its silence Friday on last week's shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 children and staff dead. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Activist Medea Benjamin, of Code Pink, is led away by security as she protests during a statement by National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, left, during a news conference in

Activist Medea Benjamin, of Code Pink, is led away by security as she protests during a statement by National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, left, during a news conference in response to the Connecticut school shooting on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 in Washington. The National Rifle Association broke its silence Friday on last week's shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 children and staff dead. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Activist Medea Benjamin, of Code Pink, is led away by security as she protests during a statement by National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, left, during a news conference in

Members of Congress who gratefully accept financial support from the National Rifle Association will have to look for another political sugar daddy the next time they seek re-election. All of that will depend on how they vote on any gun control legislation that comes before that body.

For the life of me, I can't see why anyone would want or need an assault rifle. The serious hunter doesn't need one to bring down his prey. We see no reason why Congress doesn't act immediately to reinstate the old assault rifle ban that was allowed to expire.

I have a son-in-law who is an avid fisherman. He's a catch-and-release guy -- anything he hooks is quickly released back into the water; it never makes the dinner table.Too bad there is no similar procedure for hunting animals.

This state has some of the strictest gun laws in the country and yet tragedies like Newtown happen.

I'm just a guy who grew up in Bridgeport, where in my day at least guns on the street were not a problem. I never had a desire to own a gun.

Any thrill I might have gotten out of firing weapons disappeared on the firing range at Fort Dix, N.J.

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There have been several hair-brained solutions advanced in the wake of the Newtown tragedy. The dumbest to my mind was one to arm teachers.

Another one is selling bullet-proof backpacks. The kids don't wear their packs in class do they?

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This is a tough way to spend the holidays for the folks in Newtown. We grieve with them.

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We hope the mayor's Christmas tree contains solutions to his budget problems, the school budget, a pledge of no major snow storms or other local disasters. We wish the governor's gift list includes similar solutions.